The European Intellectual Property Forum (EIPF), which is organized by French association Union des Fabricants (unifab), has celebrated its 25^th anniversary online on March 11^th and 12^th 2021. The event, which themes “Intellectual Property - An Essential Answer to The Crisis”, features thought-provoking programs and heavyweight speakers.

The event kicks off with the opening speech of Christian PEUGEOT, Unifab President & President of Peugeot Frères Industries, Bruno LE MAIRE, French Minister of Economy and Christophe GRUDLER, European Member of Parliament & Member of “Renew Europe” Group, European Parliament.

Themed “The dialogue, an essential step”, Day 1’s program features roundtables focusing on “Which new initiatives to raise awareness among consumers on intellectual property?” and “How to adapt during the crisis the cooperation between public authorities and private sector”. Heavyweight speakers include Philippe LACOSTE, CEO, Fusalp, Etienne SANZ DE ACEDO, CEO, INTA, Richard YUNG, Senator of French abroad & President, French Committee of Anti-Counterfeiting (CNAC), Isabelle BRAUN-LEMAIRE, General Director, French Customs, Paul MAIER, Director of the European Observatory of Intellectual Property Infringement, EUIPO, Yves BROUZE, Head of Online Enforcement, Swiss Watch Federation, Laurent MARCADIER, Director of actives and people protection, LVMH as well as Sergio TIRRO, Team Leader, IPR crime team, Europol. The event is wrapped up by the closing remarks delivered by Gérald DARMANIN, French Minister of Interior, Ministry of Interior.

Themed “Online / Offline: equal rights and duties, a fragile balance”, Day 2’s program features roundtables focusing on “DSA: a new opportunity, new actors, new practices, new legislation” and “From virtual world to reality: a more and more narrow frontier”. The second day’s event kicks off with the opening remarks of Cédric O, French Secretary of State in charge of digital transition and electronical communications and Pascal FAURE, General Director, French national IP office. Heavyweight speakers include Amaryllis VERHOEVEN, Head of Intellectual Property & Fight against Counterfeiting Unit, European Commission, Ricardo CASTANHEIRA, Permanent Representant of Portugal, European Commission, as well as Yves-Alain SAUVAGE Associate General Counsel & Head of anti-counterfeiting, Chanel.

The event climaxes with the release of the Unifab award for the best case law of 2019. Wanhuida and its French client Groupe SEB receive the UNIFAB Award in the “Best court decision” category for the culmination of several years’ joint efforts and legal proceedings to protect one of Groupe SEB's most disruptive innovations, Actifry fryer in China. For more details about the case, please see:

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210316005434/en/FIGHT-COUNTERFEIT-Groupe-SEB-Rewarded-by-the-Union-des-Fabricants-at-the-25th-European-Intellectual-Property-Forum

Wanhuida also receives the UNIFAB Award in the “Law Firm” category for the successful invalidation of the copycat “罗曼尼·康帝” (Chinese transliteration of Romanée-Conti) mark registered by a Chinese trademark squatter in class 33 through administrative proceeding. For more details about the case, please see:

https://www.internationallawoffice.com/Newsletters/Intellectual-Property/China/Wanhuida-Intellectual-Property/Court-grants-protection-of-unregistered-Romane-Conti-GI

The event has attracted a total of 280+ registrants. The firm’s Partners Paul Ranjard and Zhu Zhigang also attend the forum.